Seed planter



C. T. RAY

SEED PLANTER Oct. 31, 1933.

Filed May 4, 1931 go ments i nounted in the seed hopper for effecting the same time :to-a'ssure that each hillwill rey Patented Qot 31, 1933 II I 1 f STATES Q P Avery &. Sons, Louisville, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky i Application May 4, 192 1. seria ndssaeze 17 oiaimsl ror lin-sn' The term seed planters wherever used in the ate the sameto open the valve intermittently descriptive portion of this specification and in the and also providedwith a gear to, operate the claims without qualification as to kind or style, seed dropping elements within the hopper: all as is intended to include all planters, both walking in my aforesaid application for Letters Patent. and riding, and listers and the like, having one The valve, however, is of a special construction or more seed hoppers and one or more seed spouts substantially different from the corresponding or chutes together with seed droppingmechw valve of my aforesaid application and a deflector nisms operativeunder control of the travel of the is mounted in or adjacent to the mouth of the planter, to dropseeds'singly into a seed bed or chute and essentially between saidvalve and the a plurality-of seeds simultaneously into each of a seed dropping mechanism within the hopper. C5

series of hills spacedapart at regular intervals. This deflector and valve co-operate with each 1 In an application for Letters Patent of the other in bringing about certain new and advan- 3 United States, filed by me February 27,1929 and tageous resultshaving relation to the discharge numbered, serially, 3 i3,217, I have illustrated, of the. seeds from the seed chute.

described and claimed certain improvements in One of the newresults, to effect which is an 7 a planter] adapted to discharge a plurality of important purpose of the instant invention, is seeds simultaneously at certain intervals into the the entire elimination of the waste of seed and seed bed or hills. The" seed dropping mechaof labor incident to the scattering or dribbling ,nism forming part of said planter includes eleof seeds into the land between the hills, and at the discharge'of the seeds from the hopper into ceive exactly the number of seeds predetermined a seed spout or chute, (hereinafter called seed therefor. I i l chute for brevitys sake) and a valve mounted An h r imp a p p f he inv ti in the said seed chute and controlling thedis -i late so' correlate the deflector and the valve charge of the seed therefrom, together with Within'theSeed Chute that y may be relaco.

- means tooperate said valve automatically at inv positioned to Permit the Seeds-t0 be d tervals so related to the action of the seed drop- Bred y the Chute t0 the Seed bed in the Same ping elements in the hopper that there will be COHtEUOUS 511 88 0 in Which they are reperiods during which seed will accumulate in the ceived 'from the seed dropping elements in the I SO seed chute while the valve is closed, alternating hopper, thereby adapting the planter for conwith periods during which the seed thus accumutinuous drill planting. I

lated willbe simultaneously discharged to the These purposes, and others which will be apseed bed-or hills by the opening of the valve. In parent to those familiar with the art, are acthe construction shown in said application the complished by the construction and correlation 35 opening and closing of the valve is eiiected by of parts illustrated in theaccompanyingdraw- =30 certain connections including a tensioned armor ing and exemplifying the preferred embodiment lever pivoted to the frame of the planter and an in respect of the seed chute, its valve and its I operating shaft which derives motion from the deflector and the means for operating the valve,

travel of the planter and is provided with a gear and also exemplifying a suitable form-of planter I so to operate the seed dropping mechanism in the frame and hopper to which the parts just menhopper and with a cam to intermittently operate tioned may be applied.

the tensioned arm or lever, in a predetermined In said drawing, wherein like characters of timed relation with each other. reference denote corresponding parts in the sev- The planter illustrated in the accompanying eral view'si i5 drawing in many respectsis, or may be, substan- Fig.1 is a side elevation of a planter of a well tially the sameas that illustratedin my aforeknown type provided with my improved means said application for Letters Patent, notably, in for controlling the discharge of theseeds from that it'is of the type in which ,aplurality of the-chute, said chute-being shown in section and seeds re sim l n ou r pp fr m the se d with-its seed deflector and discharge valve in 50 chute at predetermined intervals in the travel their relative positions during those interims beof the planter and includes a valve mountedlin tween the seed discharging operations from the J the seed chute, a tensioned arm or lever pivoted chute in which the seeds have been delivered to to the frame a having (111 Operating 0 0130 and are being held upon the lower member of the to said valve and an operating shaft provided valve; 5 with a cam to engage said arm or lever and oper- Fig. 2 is a view, partly invertical section and llQ partly in elevation, of a part of said planter, and shows the chute in section and with its deflector and seed discharging valve in the relative positions they occupy when the seed previously accumulated upon the valve is being discharged and other parts delivered by the seed dropping elements in the hopper are being caught by the upper member of said valve;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of the chute, showing the valve held in a neutral position and against oscillatory movement and the deflector in the position it occupies when the valve is so held, to thereby permit flow of the seeds through the chute, unrestrained by the valve, to adapt the planter to be used in drilling;

Fig. i is a detail perspective view of the said chute and certain parts of the mechanism for operating the valve which controls the discharge of seed therefrom.

The frame of the planter selected for illustrative purposes includes two side members 10, 10 whose forward ends are in a converging relation and provided with a clevis 11 and whose rear end is provided with a ground engaging wheel 12 mounted on an axle 12'. A seed hopper 13, whose bottom is provided with any suitable seed dropping means, not shown, is mounted upon the framein proper relation to a chute 14 into the mouth of whichthe seeds are dropped by said means. The operation of the seed dropping means within the hopper is under control of the travel of the planter, through the medium of appropriate mechanism, the mechanism for this purpose herein shown including a shaft 15 each of whose ends-is provided with a crank 16 connected by a link 17 with a, crank 18 on the end of the'axle 12, and which shaft .isprovided with a gear 15 to intermesh-with an appropriate gear which forms a part of said seed dropping means.

vThe seed chute 14 is provided with a valve A which includes two members 20 and 22. This valve is carried by a shaft 21 journaled in the side members of the chute, whereby the valve may oscillate about an axis provided by said. shaft. It will be noticedthat the shaft is arranged intermediate the ends of the valve member 20 and in such relation to the walls of the chute that the valve when in closed position will extend at a downward inclination from its upper extremity to its lower extremity and when in open position will extend substantially vertically within the chute. The member 22 of the valve is, preferably, substantially concentric with the axis of rotation of the valve member 20 and is arranged at the upperextremity of the latter, from which it projects laterally, as shown.

A seed deflector 23 is mounted in the chute between the valve member 22 and the seed dropping means in the hopper. Its lower end is secured to a pivot pin 24 extending through the side walls of the chute and its said lower end is arranged in such relation to the valve A and to the walls of the chute that when the deflector is in the position shown in Figs. 1-3, inclusive,

a channel having a restricted outlet leading to .part of the planter.

to the latter position, the seeds which hadbeen deposited on its lower member are dropped into the hill or onto the seed bed and at the same time the member 22 of the valve will bridge the space between the lower end of the deflector 23 and the wall i l of the chute and hence close the outlet to the part of the chute containing the valve. Any seeds delivered to the chute at this time will be caught and held by the valve member 22 and will be wiped oif the latter and onto the valve member 20 in the return of the valve to its former position. Hence all danger of dribblingof stray seeds through the chute and onto the land while the valve is being shifted from one position to another is positively prevented.

This shifting of the valve A is accomplished under control of the shaft 15 through the medium of a cam 26 mounted on said shaft and an arm or lever 27 pivoted at one end, 27, to an appropriate part of the planter frame and whose other end is connected by a rod 23 with the end of a crank 29 which projects from the shaft 21. Said cam 26 in the rotation cf the shaft makes a wiping contact with said arm or lever and thereby dc.

presses the latter and causes the valve member 20 to open and permit the seeds which have been deposited onthe lower end thereof to be discharged. The arm or lever 27 preferably is pro vided with a projection 30 to be engaged by said cam and is under tension of a spring 31, whose opposite ends are connected to the planter frame and to said or lever, respectively. This spring operates to hold the arm or lever with its projection 30 yieldably against the cam and the correlation of these parts is such as to effect a substantially instantaneous movement of said arm or lever and hence of the valve A from or into seed discharging position. Prompt opening and close ing of the valve A at proper times in the rotative movement of the cam is thus assured. This cam may have one or more high spots, according to whether the valve is to beopened only once or more than once in each rotation of the shaft 21. In the illustrated embodiment three such high spots 26 equidistantly spaced from each other are shown.

The rear wall 14 of the chute 14 has an opening throughout that portion ofits length within or adjacent to which the valve A operates and its forward wall 14" is provided with means of any suitable nature for securing it to an appropriate In the illustrated. embodiment the said seed chute'l i is providedwith a pair of spaced flanges 14 only one of which is shown, arranged on opposite sides of a standard 14 to which it is secured by arms or plates 14 which project from the rear ends of the side members of a sword opener 35 and also secure said ends to said standard. The forward end of the sword opener is connected to the frame by a pair of arms, one of which is shown and marked 35. The illustrated planter is also providedwith an appropriate gauge 36 adjustably connected at one end to the frame of the planter by arms 36 and at its other end to the opener 35 by arms 36". It will beunderstood, however, that this type of opener is not essential and in fact that any appropriate opener arranged immediately in advance of the'seed chute may be employed. Attention is called to the fact that said chute extends to a point in close proximity to the ground and the sword opener is so correlated with the dischargeend of the said chute as to provide a shield for the latter, whereby all danger of dissipation believe'to be new and desire to secure of seed dischar'ged from the seed chute before it reaches the seed bedis'eliminated. r j a Reference has been made to the fact that the device forming the subject of this invention is adaptable'alsofor planting in'drills. When such planting is desired, the valve A is maintained'in aposition in which it is inoperative or, has a neutral effect by a stop Bib-which is movedinto engagenient'with the rear of said valve,the-deflector 23 also being adjusted from .the position shown in Figs. 13, to the position shown in Fig. 4, whereby it will direct the seed into the channel forward of the valve, which channel is now open to the outletend of the chute,'a's will be apparent. To facilitate this adjustment, the. pivot pin 2% of the deflector is extended through the wall of the chute and provided outside the latter with a head 38 for convenience in operating it. In order that said valve will derive nomotion from its operating mechanism, when adjusted to its inoperative position, it is provided with appropriate means,

such as. the fastening screw 40, adapted to free it fromits shaft 21, so that the latter may turn freelytherein in the drilling operation. Tightening of this screw will fix the valve tothe shaft to thereby cause it to oscillate under power de- 7 rivedfrom the travel of the planter, as is apparent. h I

The arm or lever 27, it will be noticed, extends longitudinally of the planter and the rod 28-which connects it with the crank 29projecting from the shaft 21 is adjustable to vary the distance between said arm or lever and crank in accord with the throw to be given the valve A.

It will be understoodthat this invention is applicable to the planting of all kinds of seeds and that its valve will be operative from the shaft 15 at a speed consistent with thenumber of seeds to be discharged at each rotation of said shaft. It will also be understood that the number of high spots on the cam fixed to said shaft 15 will determine the number of opening movements of the valve A in each rotation of said shaft 15. In-

short, provision may readily be made, according to this invention, for the kinds of seed to be planted, for the number of seeds to be delivered to the seed bed at each opening movement of the valve A and for thedistance to be traversed by the planterbetween successive opening movements of said valve, all in accordance with the needs and desires of the user. Finally, it will be noticed, that the construction of the means con-.

stituting-the present invention is simple, positive in action and adaptable tovarious planting conditions.

Patent, is: i

1. A seed planter including a wheeled frame, a

hopper mounted on'said frame, a seed chute to receivethe seeds discharged from thehopper, said chute having an opening in its rear side, an

oscillatory valve and a deflector mounted in said seed chute, said valve being pivoted between its. ends and having an upper valve member adapted to be projected from and retracted to within the chute, through said opening, in the oscillating movements of the valve, the valve also having a member adapted to extend inclinatorily within the chute with its lower end impinging upon the forward side of the latter when said upper valve member is in its projected position and to extend substantially horizontally within the chute shaft to be operated thereby and tofree'it from by Letters 7 the horizontal plane of the valve and being pivoted at itslower end in such relation to the front and rear walls of the chute and to the valve that the space between its pivoted end and the rear wall of the chute will be bridged by the upper member of the valve when the latter is inits re-. tracted position and'being adjustable to extend ata downward inclination forwardlyfrom said rear wall or rearwarclly from'the forward wall of the chute, and saidchute having a member adjustable to form a stop which engages the upper member of the valve and holds the valve against oscillatory movement-when the deflector has been adjusted'to its last mentioned position.

2. A seed planter accordingto claim 1, in which means deriving power-from the travel ofthe planter are provided to oscillate the valve and said valve is mounted upon a shaft and is provided with a device operativeto fix it to said said shaft to permit the shaft to rotate therein,

. at will.

3. A seed planter accordingto claiml, in which a tensioned lever extending longitudinally of the planter and pivoted at one end to the latter, a. shaft upon which the valve is mounted andappropriate connections between the other end of the tensioned'lever a'nd'the shaft,;together with means under control of the travel of the planter and operatively related to said lever, are pro- 'vided tooscillate said valve, and in which'also the valve is provided with means for fastening it to and releasing it from said shaft. 1 i

5. In a seedplanter, a seed chute,' a'deflector 120 adjustable at will from a position in which it directs seedsinto the chute at one side 'of the-longitudinal center of the chuteinto a'position in which it directs the seeds into the chute at the opposite side of said-center, a valve pivotedbetween its-ends within the chute, said valve including a member which opens and closesthe space between said deflector and a wallof the chute and a memberwhich opens and closes the outlet end of the chute, and means for maintain- 1.1)

ing the valve in a position in whichan unobstructed passageway for the flow offthe seeds through the chute is provided when said deflector has been adjusted to a corresponding position.

h 6. In aseed planter, a seed chute, an inclined deflector providing a gradually narrowing passageway at the receiving end of the chute, a valve for controlling the passage of the seeds from said passageway .tothe ground: said valve extending lengthwisefofjthe chute and being pivoted between its ends and having an upper member to open and close said passageway and a member to open and close the discharge end of the chute, said members being respectively arranged on opposite sides of the pivot and operating to close said passageway and the discha'rge'end of the chute in alternate succession, and said inclined deflector being movable at will into a position in which it directs the seeds ontothe upper member of the valve when the passageway-isclosed which it directs the seeds away from said valve member to thereby permit the seedsto pass unrestrainedly through the chute if the discharge end of the chutebe open.

.7. In a seed planter according to claim 6, in which means are provided to prevent closure of the discharge end of the chute when the deflector is in the position it occupies when the discharge of the seed from the chute is not to be restrained by the valve.

8. Ina seed planter, a hopper, means under controlof the travel of the planter for controlling the discharge of seed from the hopper, a chute to receive the seeds discharged from the hopper, an inclined deflector arranged in the path of the seeds flowing from the hopper to the chute, said deflector being pivoted at its lower end and providing a gradually narrowingpassageway at the inlet end of the chute, a valve pivoted between its ends in the chute and arranged below the de-. fiector, said valve including a member to open and close the discharge end of the chute, and extending inclinatorily across the chute when in the position in which, it opens said passageway and closes the discharge end of the chute and approximately vertically within the chute when in the position. in which the passageway at the inlet end of the chute is closed, means including an element adjustable into and out of a restraining relationship with said valve, for holding it in the latter position, said-inclined deflector being adjustable at will to one side or the other side of the inlet endof the chute, and means under control of the travel of the planter for imparting oscillatory movement to said valve when the latter is free for such movement.

9. A seed planter according to claim 3 in which the pivot for the'oscillatory valve is provided by a shaft and means are provided for securing the valve-to said shaft when the valve is to be oscillated and for releasing'it from said shaft when the valve is to be held against oscillatory movement.

10. In a seed planter, a wheeled frame, a hop per, a seed chute arranged to receive seeds dis charged from the hopper, a valve mounted in the chute andcontrolling the inlet of seed thereto and the outlet of seed therefrom, an oscillatory shaft carrying said valve, said shaft having a crank arm at one of its ends, a valve operating lever extending longitudinally of the frame and pivoted at one end thereto, a spring for tensioning said lever, means connecting the'e'nd oithe lever opposite the pivot with said crank arm and means. under control of the travel of the planter and serving to control the discharge of seeds from the, hopper and also to control the pivotal movements of said lever.

11. A seed planter according to claim ll'l'in which, the connection between the rion-pivoted end of the valve-operating lever and the crank arm consists of a rod one of whose ends is pivoted to said lever and the other of whose ends is adjustably connected to the crank arm.

12. A seed planter according to claim 10 in which the means for controlling the discharge of seeds from the hopper and also for controlling the pivotal movements of the valve-operating lever includes a shaft which derives power from the travel of the planter and is provided with means for operating the seed dropping mechanism and said lever.

by the latter and from said position into one in 13..A se ed planter according to claim 10 in which the means for controlling the discharge of seeds from the hopper and also for controlling the pivotal movements of the valve operating lever includes a shaft which derives power from the travel of the planter and operating connections between said shaft and the seed dropping mechanism and lever, the connection to the lever including a cam mounted on said shaft and provided with a plurality of high spots and said lever having a projection to be engaged by said high spots.

i l. A seed planter including a wheeled frame, a seed hopper, means operated by power derived from the travel of the planter for controlling discharge of seed from said hopper, a seed'chute arranged to receive seed from the hopper, a valve arranged in the seed chute and operative to open and close the discharge end of said chute, a pivotal pin or shaft connected to said valve between the ends of the latter, a'tensioned valve-opera ting lever pivoted at oneend to said frame, a connection between the other end of said lever and the valve pin or shaft through which the valve is oscillated from pivotal movements of the lever, and an inclined deflector arranged in the path of the seeds between the hopper and the valve and forming a gradually narrowing passageway leading to the upper end of the valve, said upper end of the valve having a member which closes said passageway when the valve is in the position in which it has opened the outlet end of the chute.

15. A seed planter including a fixed seed chute, a pivoteddcflector which gradually narrows the passageway to the inlet end of said chute and a unitary valve oscillatorily mounted in said chute and having an upper member to control said passageway and a lower member to control the discharge of seed from the chutef 16.1 seed planter comprising a fixed seed chute having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, for the seeds, and a valve arranged lengthwise of the chute and pivoted between its ends within the same, said valve. having unitary members at its opposite ends to close said inlet and outlet openings in alternate successionand being arranged to extend inclinatorily across the chute when in the position in which it closes the outlet opening and opens the inlet opening and to extend substantially vertically within the chute when in the position in which it closes the'inlet opening and opens the outlet opening.

1'7. A seed planter comprising a fixedfseed chute having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, for the seeds, and a valve arranged lengthwise of the chute and pivoted between its ends within the same, said valve having unitary upper and lower members, respectively to open and close said inlet opening and to open and close said outlet opening and being arranged to extend inclinatorily across the chute when in one of its operative positions and vertically within the chute when in its other operative position, and said chute having, at one side ofv its inlet opening and adjacent the same, a member positioned to wipe the seeds from the upper valve member in movement of the latter to its open position.

CHARLES T. RAY. 

